Life

He was wealthy, but fell into poverty because of sin and the sins of his sons. He was thus visited by an angel of repentence, who stayed with him until the end of his life, during which time he wrote The Shepherd of Hermas, a widely read work in the early Church detailing the teachings the angel gave him and focusing on repentence:

believe in God

live in simplicity and innocence; do not speak evil; give alms to all who beg

love truth and avoid falsehood

preserve chastity in your thoughts

learn patience and generosity

know that a good and an evil spirit attend every man

fear God and not the devil

perfom every good act, and refrain from every evil deed

pray to God from the depth of your soul with faith that your prayers will be fulfilled